Here are some of our most Frequently Asked Questions and their answers

How do you grow oysters?

Growing delicious oysters is a process that takes up to four years. It starts with a few million fresh oyster "seeds." Oyster seed are small oysters about the size of a small fingernail. We place these millions of seeds in the Cape Cod Bay for the perfect combination of clean water and sun. This makes them grow and gives them their distinctive delicious Cape Cod Bay flavor. Obviously, not all survive. Crabs like oysters too, along with other predators that eat them. After 2 to 4 years, an oyster reaches harvesting size which is 3 inches.

Do you harvest oysters in the winter?

Yes, we do harvest in the winter. Brrrr! As you can see from the photos in the restaurant, the winter harvest is the hardest time of year to go out to the flats with the howling wind... But all the hard work pays off when we hear our customers exclaiming how wonderful the oysters are.

Can I have a party at your restaurant?

Yes! Please call and speak with Greg (508-398-4600) about either a small party for dinner or using the restaurant for your large party (Such as holiday/Christmas parties, birthday parties, corporate dinners, and wine/oyster tastings...)

What kind of oysters do you have at the Oyster Company?

We offer only the freshest, most delicious oysters on the market - the ones we personally grow and harvest - our amazing Quivet Neck Oysters. We harvest them each day from farm to table so what we harvest in the morning is what is served that same day - right out of the ocean - year round!

Is "only eat oysters in 'R' months" a myth?

Yes, it is. Folklore says that oysters should be eaten only in months with "R's" in them-September, October, etc. Oysters can be eaten 12 months a year. The notion that oysters should not be eaten in "R-less" months; that is - months that occur during warm weather - may have started in the days when oysters where shipped without adequate refrigeration and could spoil. But today all that has changed and we can enjoy oysters twelve months a year. (And at the Oyster Company, our oysters come from local waters so there is no shipping required!) Check out this article

Are Oysters good for you?

Yes! Oysters are not only delicious, but they're also one of the most nutritionally well balanced foods, containing protein, carbohydrates and lipids. The National Heart and Lung Institute suggests oysters as an ideal food for inclusion in low-cholesterol diets. Oysters are an excellent source of vitamins. Four or five medium size oysters supply the recommended daily allowance of iron, copper, iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese and phosphorus.

How do pearls end up inside of oysters?

An oyster produces a pearl when foreign material becomes trapped inside the shell. The oyster responds to the irritation by producing nacre, a combination of calcium and protein. The nacre coats the foreign material and over time produces a pearl.